I got a letter!

You may remember that I wrote to both Kay bailey-Hutchinson and John Cornyn about the Senate amnesty bill.
Here's what I got the other day:

Dear Mr. P:

Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. The need to fix our
broken system is clear, and Congress is currently debating two proposals
regarding one of the most important issues in recent memory.

Immigration reform ultimately must be about improving legal immigration,
not about creating a new process that benefits only illegal aliens.
Although we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. If
all immigrants must abide by the rule of law and are treated equally, then
we can reach a consensus on ways to improve the legal process so that it
meets the needs of society, the economy, and our national security.

Last July, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border
Security, Immigration, and Citizenship, I worked closely with Arizona
Senator Jon Kyl to formulate the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration
Reform Act of 2005 (S. 1438). This legislation offers no amnesty but
includes provisions to strengthen border security, ensure jobsite
enforcement, and sensibly handle the undocumented population currently
living within our borders. It is based on both the rule of law and the
fundamental American principle of fairness.

Unfortunately, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act
of 2006 by a vote of 62 to 36. I voted against the bill because it has
serious flaws and the net loss it would cause our country. During the
Senate debate I tried to improve the legislation in preparation for its
consideration by a House-Senate conference, where it could be improved even
more. The final result must be marked improvement in border security,
employer accountability, better assimilation of legal immigrants, and
compensation for state expenses incurred from illegal immigration.

Ultimately, the final immigration plan will be worked out in a conference
committee that will reconcile the differences between the House of
Representatives’ immigration bill (H.R. 4437) and the Senate bill (S.
2611). I will be on that committee, and I look forward to creating
immigration laws that will be respected by American citizens and upheld by
all levels of government.

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security,
Immigration, and Citizenship, I will continue working to curtail illegal
immigration and its effects on the State of Texas while ensuring that
immigrants following the rule of law have an equal opportunity to realize
their potential as they become productive members of our society. To
better acquaint you with the reforms I support, I have compiled detailed
summaries of S. 1438 and other relevant information at
http://cornyn.senate.gov/immigration.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the
United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator





517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

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http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/newsletter.



I'm still waiting to hear from Ms Hutchinson.